Hundreds of people have crowded the streets in Jo Cox’s former constituency to pay their respects ahead of a private funeral for her.
They lined roads in Batley to watch her hearse and cortege pass, some schoolchildren threw flowers and applauded.
Cox died last month after being shot and stabbed outside a constituency surgery. The much-hailed MP was described after by colleague Alison McGovern as someone who “gave love to us all and that can never be lost”.
Today, she was remembered by friends, family and the constituents she served for just over a year in Westminster.
Cox’s family have said that the funeral service will be an intimate and private occasion reserved for close family and friends only.
The well-wishing public have been told there will be two places where the cortege will slow down so people can pay their respects.
Her husband has only issued a short message today, which he published in light of the Nice terror attack that left at least 84 people dead.
“Jo would ask us not to fight hate with hate but draw together to drain the swamp that extremism breeds in,” he wrote in a post on social media. “Thinking of all victims of hatred today.”
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also posted a message on Twitter saying his thoughts were with Cox’s family and friends.
He also included a clip of Cox’s maiden speech, in which she said: “We have much more in common than that which divides us.”
Earlier this week, Cox’s family issued a statement.
It read: “We have been overwhelmed and touched by the love and support people have shown us since Jo’s death. We are deeply grateful to all who have reached out to us.
“Knowing that so many people share both our grief and our determination to take forward Jo’s legacy is a source of great strength at what otherwise feels like a very bleak time.
“Now, particularly for the children, we have decided that Jo’s funeral will be a very small and private family affair. Anybody from the local community who would like to pay their respects is welcome to gather along the areas outlined as we make this last journey.
“Following this we would ask everyone to respect our privacy to enable us to grieve and rebuild as a family.”